Construction worker who punched colleague making “racial slurs” cops $1500 fine

A construction worker has been fined $1500 after assaulting a man who was making “racial slurs” against him while working in Carnarvon.

Shane Darren Bonney, 30, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Geraldton Magistrate’s Court last week, saying he should not have reacted the way he did.

Defence lawyer Tim Hampson told the court Bonney was working on a crew repairing North West Coastal Highway when the assault occurred on May 1.

“He’s genuinely remorseful about his actions,” he said. “He’s had to deal with racial abuse all his life and felt provoked. While this doesn’t excuse his actions, it does help explain them.”

Mr Hampson said Bonney had undergone anger management counselling because of the incident and now understood there were “legal processes to deal with grievances”.

Prosecutors told the court the victim was a 55-year-old work colleague and he had sustained a “severe” swollen eye from the punch after his head hit a brick wall.

Bonney was fined $1500 and ordered to pay court costs of $130.50 by Magistrate Chris Miocevich, who said he hoped the fine would act as a deterrent for similar behaviour.

“When you punch someone to the face it can have serious consequences,” he said. “I’ve seen video footage where one punch to the head has killed people.”